Anderson in the starting line up?

by Adam T on Dec 28, 2006 7:48 AM CST in News

Rookie defensive end Mark Anderson, he of 12 sacks, has obviously been one of the brightest spots for us in a season full of bright spots. The next question is obvious. How long until he is a starter? When asked, DC Ron Rivera did not outright say that soon he would replace Alex Brown on the line, he did say that Anderson will continue to have his on field time increased.

So far Brown has played the company line, but with a recent contract extension going through 2009, I am curious how Brown would take being moved to second string.

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role reversal

Maybe being a third down edge rusher will help Alex by taking some of the pressure to perform off him? You want to have the best player on the field as much as possible, and clearly Mark Anderson has been our best DE this year.

Ian Scott has played really well on the line in place of Tank and Tommie. He ought to get the start there next to Tank.

Unleash your inner Grabowski.

by jrm78 on Dec 28, 2006 8:04 AM CST reply actions

Role reversal reversed...

If being put into a third-down pass rusher role may help Alex Brown, couldn't being moved into a starting position hurt Anderson?

Besides, Anderson's best ability is clearly rushing the passer, why would you possibly want to take him out of that role for Brown?

Finally, as good as Anderson has been, couldn't some (or most) of his value come from his "change-of-pace" d-end presence? I'm always leery of expecting similar production from a person moving from part-time to full-time. It happens, obviously. But I don't think one should expect it. I say it's working fine now.

by tyger1147 on Dec 28, 2006 9:30 AM CST up reply actions

valid points

Even if Mark Anderson gets more PT, it doesn't mean Wale and Brown will return to performing at or above expectations. I haven't seen enough of him during running downs to be able to tell how effective he is in those situations. Much of my desire to see him in more is just wanting to play the hot hand on defense.

Wale and Alex do need to step up their play, which prolly has something to do with Tank and Tommie being out.

Unleash your inner Grabowski.

by jrm78 on Dec 28, 2006 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

Trade

Wishful thinking, I know..

Alex Brown and a pick to the Eagles for Donovan McNabb.

Why the Bears do it: For a franchise QB and Rex Grossman will be playing hard for a contract with someone else until Donovan gets fully healthy.

Why the Eagles do it: Free cap space (which the Eagles brass LOVES) and sure up a defensive line whose ends have injury histories (Darren Howard, Jevon Kearse). They can sign Garcia for 2 years and for relatively cheap and draft a QB to groom for the West Coast offense (which, as great as McNabb, he isn't a 'classic' West Coast Offense QB).

Again, VERY wishful thinking...

by SouthernSlam on Dec 28, 2006 8:56 AM CST reply actions

if it's not broke don't fix it.

I'd say just leave Brown and Anderson where they are.

first the Rush...now the Bears.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 28, 2006 9:36 AM CST reply actions

Anderson's week point

has been rush defense, but word is he has greatly improved. Rivera pointed out that teams are already running two blockers at him, so it isn't like moving into the starting line up would be the first time he has been schemed against.

by Adam T on Dec 28, 2006 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

a rotation keeps them all fresh

until anderson becomes a good run defender (he apparently has improved on that big time, though), brown and wale should start. anderson should definitely get more playing time, though. his exceptional pass rushing (he's schooled some great offensive lineman this year and seems legit) could help us compensate for our D-line and secondary which have been weakend a bit due to injuries. the less p.t. wale and brown get due to more p.t. for anderson, the more rested they should be, which would hopefully mean they can go full-tilt in postseason games.

by guy incognito on Dec 28, 2006 11:56 AM CST reply actions

DeMarcus Ware...

I say on passing downs we go 3 - 4. Brown, Scott and Wale on the line and line up Anderson like an LT (old school) or DeMarcus Ware rush linebacker.

Thoughts?

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 28, 2006 12:27 PM CST reply actions

why not.

They've done everything else the past couple weeks.

first the Rush...now the Bears.

by mike @ Windy City Gridiron on Dec 28, 2006 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

I don';t know if you all caught this

but there was an article somewhere that said Smith and Rivera purposely put out the wrong defense, so Hester and Manning would screw up and they could show them how to fix it. Kind of like play off prep.

by Adam T on Dec 28, 2006 12:55 PM CST reply actions

Yea...

I saw something about that too. Interesting strategy...

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Dec 28, 2006 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

Rosen and Ryan...

...were saying something to that effect on Sunday—that Lovie and Rivera were trying to make their DBs "feel uncomfortable" or something like that.

(Also: I've read that Todd Johnson played last week. I kept seeing Manning and Harris in the backfield. Did I miss him? Maybe I only noticed when things broke down.)

by Danimal on Dec 28, 2006 1:53 PM CST up reply actions

sleight of hand?

My thinking is that they don't want to put anything on tape this close to the playoffs. Plus, wrong coverages may give opposing teams scouting the Bears a false sense of security with what they can do against our DBs.

Unleash your inner Grabowski.

by jrm78 on Dec 28, 2006 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

The way things are nowadays

I would buy anything when it comes to hiding stuff heading into the playoffs. You have teams not reporting their injury reports correctly or late. Some teams hold off on naming their starting QB until game time even though they know who they are starting.

by Adam T on Dec 28, 2006 2:37 PM CST up reply actions